25 Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Shopping – Summer Edition

Summer Fun In The Sun.

Have you ever felt compelled to shop because you have some free time? Maybe you are bored or feel like you deserve to go shopping as a treat? Often this can turn into a bad habit. Growing up and spending Saturday afternoons hanging out at the shopping centre can be fun. However, as an adult, random shopping trips can turn into an added expense. Plus there is the guilt factor for buying a load of things you don’t need! Whether you use shopping as a social activity or you scroll mindlessly through websites in the evening, there are more fulfilling activities you could be getting up to. And summer is the perfect time for finding a new hobby – the weather is warmer and the days are longer.

Here are 25 Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Shopping This Summer.

• Pick a new fitness challenge. Maybe it is running a marathon or learning to swim or do yoga. Pick something that you can do every week or every couple of days and work towards a goal.
• Go to the local park or garden. Bring a book, a picnic or a laptop and also get some fresh air while you work.
• Meet a friend for lunch. Try eating outdoors or meet up at a local beer garden and make the most of the summer weather.
• Sightseeing in your hometown or nearby. Often we don’t go to the local tourist places near our homes. If there’s a museum or attraction nearby, why not take the time to visit it? Check TripAdvisor for the top five things to do in your area.
• Cook a meal. For friends, family or maybe just for yourself. Is there something that you have always wanted to make but never got around to it? Here’s your chance!
• Go for a hike. It is the perfect time of year for a hike, pack some food and water and off you go.

• Camping. Camping can be done in your back garden, beside the beach, at a festival, halfway up a mountain or even as part of a hike.
• Riding a bike. Depending on where you are there might be bike lanes which definitely makes it easier, even a quick ride around the local park can be fun in the summer months.
• Gardening. Spending time in the garden can be just as therapeutic as shopping. And if you don’t have a garden, you could put your name down for an allotment or even just grow herbs on your windowsill.
• Take a trip. Summer road trips are the best. The world is your oyster and remember the planning is half the fun!
• Organise your wardrobe.  Declutter anything you no longer wear and donate to charity. Try out different outfit combinations to the ones you usually wear. You might find a great new way to wear that skirt hiding in the back of your wardrobe.
• Make plans for the future. Summer is the perfect time for setting new goals. Start writing down that bucket list for what you want to achieve for the rest of the year.
• Volunteer. By doing whatever interests you – beach cleaning, helping out at the local pet shelter or planting trees are all options.
• Mend any clothes that need altering. We all have a mending pile. Failing that you can take them to a local tailor to fix them for you. You can also take up a hem, add embroidery or dye clothing a different colour to completely change how it looks.
• Visit the beach. If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, use the summer months to enjoy it. Take the dog a walk, swim or surf or just take in the view.

• Drink cocktails in the sunshine. This has to be done at least once every summer whether it is alcoholic or unalcoholic cocktails. Homemade is a real crowd pleaser too.
• Take care of your to-do list. If there are things nagging at the back of your mind to be done, this is the perfect time to be taking care of them.
• Sunbathe. Top up the vitamin D. Wear sunblock, no one likes the lobster look.
• Sell your old stuff. eBay and Depop are good for selling clothes and you can even sell your things on Facebook groups that you no longer use. If you have loads to get rid of you can always sell at a car boot sale or see if there are any markets in your area that allow individuals to sell.
• Go to a festival. Lots of bands tour during the summer so they can do the festivals. However, there are festivals for everything nowadays. Beer, film, food, folk, and comedy festivals are just a few. You can definitely find something to your taste.
• Call a friend that you haven’t seen for a while. We fall out of touch but it can be great to reconnect and you might have more in common than you first remembered.
• Listen to a podcast. These are my favourites at the moment.
• Watch a sport. Tennis, football? Whatever you are into, check if there is a game on nearby.
• Fly a kite. ‘Let’s go fly a kite, Up to the highest height.’
• Eat ice cream! That’s what summer is for, right? If you are feeling really fancy you could always make your own!

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